Mass protests are again expected in France on Saturday, with authorities deciding to maintain the curfew and gathering restrictions. Hundreds of thousands of participants are anticipated.
Protest marches are banned in the centre of the capital, while marches have only been authorised in more distant parts of the city. A night-time curfew will again be introduced at certain locations in the city centre. However, a Paris administrative court ruled that a march between Place de la Bastille and Place de la Nation in the city centre could still take place.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced an appeal against this decision. He stated that a large number of police officers would be deployed on the streets, citing risks to public order and the danger of material damage to shops. 70,000 police officers were deployed against hooligans and looters last weekend.
Hooligans caused significant material damage in several cities earlier this month. Following major riots that broke out on the margins of protest gatherings on 17 October, police largely succeeded in preventing a repeat of the violence last Saturday.
Young people in France have been protesting for weeks, demanding better staffing and material conditions in schools. Since mid-October, other groups of citizens have joined them, protesting primarily over high living costs.
